Nigel Adkins has been handed the challenge of reviving Hull City’s season after being confirmed as the club’s new head coach on 18-month contract.

Adkins has been the number one target for the Tigers since they axed Leonid Slutsky on Sunday night and the advanced talks held yesterday concluded with the former Southampton boss agreeing terms on his return to management.

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That result left the Tigers without a win in seven games and facing the threat of a relegation battle in the Championship.

Adkins has been out of work since leaving his post as Sheffield United boss in May 2016 but arrives with four promotions on his CV. Spells at Scunthorpe United and Southampton were both richly decorated before he moved on to less successful stints in charge of Reading and the Blades.

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Nigel Adkins timeline

1993

After spells as a goalkeeper with Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic, Adkins began his managerial career in 1993 as the player-manager of Bangor City in the League of Wales. He won the Championship in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 campaigns, before departing in February 1996.

2006

After working his way up as Scunthorpe's physio, Adkins was appointed caretaker manager by Iron chairman Steve Wharton in November 2006, following the departure Brian Laws. After his spell as caretaker, he was appointed as permanent manager on 7 December 2006. The famous chant: "Who needs Mourinho, we've got our physio!" was sung in his honour.

2007

Adkins guided Scunthorpe to promotion to the Championship with three matches to spare on 14 April 2007. The Iron were relegated the following season, but returned via the League One play-offs in May 2009. Scunthorpe struggled once again but avoided relegation by finishing 20th and being five points clear of Sheffield Wednesday.

2010

Adkins joined Southampton on 12 September 2010, after the Saints and Scunthorpe agreed a compensation package. Adkins signed a three-year contract and was joined there by his former assistant at the Iron, Andy Crosby. He gained his first victory in charge in his third game winning 1–0 at Sheffield Wednesday.

2011 and 2012

Adkins was the first Southampton manager to gain back-to-back promotions. First, promotion to the Championship was confirmed in May 2011 after a 3-1 win against Walsall. Then, despite a wobble around Christmas, Adkins guided the Saints to a 12-game unbeaten run They finally secured promotion to the Premier League on the final day of the season, beating Coventry City 4–0 at St Mary's in front of a club-record crowd.

Early 2013

Adkins was sacked as Southampton manager and replaced by Mauricio Pochettino. As Adkins and Southampton were unable to agree the terms of his compensation package, Adkins commenced legal action for breach of contract in March 2013.

March 2013-December 2014

Adkins was appointed manager at Reading in succession to Brian McDermott. He could not stop Reading from being relegated and on 15 December 2014, Adkins was sacked following his side's 6–1 defeat to Birmingham which left them ten points behind a play-off place in the Championship.

2015

In June 2015, Adkins was appointed as the manager of Sheffield United. The Blades ended the season in 11th place, their lowest league position since 1983, eight points from the play-offs. Adkins was subsequently sacked on 12 May 2016.

December 2017

After strong speculation, Nigel Adkins is appointed as Hull City's new manager, taking over from the sacked Leonid Slutsky.

Adkins was in the running to become City boss in the summer and has always been admired by vice chairman Ehab Allam. The Mail first reported that Adkins was being lined up as a replacement for Slutsky on November 21.